10 Video Games You Had To Hide From Your Parents

9. Gears Of War

Gears is not just one on-the-nose scene with its violence - instead after the first one was so well-received it became a signature trait, giving us one of the best third-person action trilogies in gaming along with a cover-mechanic that revolutionised the way we'd play. In addition, part two introduced the fantastic idea of finishing off downed foes in a number of satisfyingly violent ways, ranging from a decapitation with your Torque Bow's strings to using your shotgun as a head-popping golf club... or just demolishing a face with your boot.

The sound design was top-notch too, with every squelch, pop and limb-sever sounding like a whole bag of wet lettuce being put through a grinder.

For any already-squeamish parents, there wasn't a whole lot for them to take away outside of watching their little darlings get completely wide-eyed at the prospect of bashing more skulls in, and as you'll see in any "video games are the devil'-style news report, Gears frequently makes an appearance precisely because of it.